Select Season
What is the Select Season?
The Select season is a program following the fall season open only to players who participated in the fall season in the U10, U12, U14, U16, and U19 divisions. This is an opportunity for players to improve their skills in a more competitive environment.
Select Season games start in early January and runs through March, culminating with the Select Season tournament at the end of March. Select teams then stay together to play in several tournaments through at least the end of May. See "Expected travel and tournaments" below.
Registration
Select season registration typically begins in late October to November for the upcoming season.
Player draft
The teams are drafted in November, with practices starting in December. For each age group and gender, the coaches get together and draft the players for that age/gender group using a serpentine draft method. Coaches will have scouted the players at a game (and Preview Day, if applicable). Each coach is looking for different things. Factors that often play a part in selection include skill, sportsmanship, team participation, speed, effort, an understanding of the game, attendance and participation in fall training, positional needs of the team and team chemistry. Each team needs referees to be eligible for tournaments. It is possible that a player will be selected because one of their parents is a referee.
Costs
Select registration fees are $60 for 10U through 18U, which includes Regional costs, uniform purchase, and Select Tournament fees.
Criteria for the Select Season
PLAYERS: We encourage all eligible players to contact your coach or a regional board member! To be eligible to participate in the Select program a player must be registered, and must have participated, in the prior Fall Season no later than the last Saturday in September. For 10U-14U the player must participate in at least 70 percent of the Fall Season, or Regional Tournament (12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U). For 18U the player must participate in at least 50 percent of the Fall Season. Rained-out games are included as games played, and players must meet regional playing time guidelines (currently three-quarters of each fall game). Exceptions to the eligibility requirements above may be allowed on a case-by-case basis with approval of the Regional Board. Players must participate in the same division in Select as they participated in during the prior Fall Season. The number of teams that will be formed in each division varies from year to year.
COACHES: Similar to the players, all interested coaches who have coached in the Fall. 10U coaches must have completed the 12U coaching class in order to be considered to coach 10U in the Select Season. All other coaches, including assistants, must have completed the appropriate coaching class level to their age group, AYSO Safe Haven training, and the CDC concussion training (the latter two available online.) There will be no exceptions to this rule. Coaches should have completed the required coach training at the time of applications.
COMMITMENT: A high level of commitment is expected from the coaches, players, and the parents. Select is for motivated and enthusiastic players. Other obligations MUST be included in the application if known or anticipated. While some players are involved in other sports, for the good of the team, most Select coaches require that training sessions and games take AT LEAST equal precedence with other activities. In addition to the player’s commitment, parents are required to participate in running the Select Tournament.
Expected travel and tournaments
Select teams will likely play half their games at away locations, so from January through mid-March, expect about five weekends during which you will play away games, usually in the Concord area, but sometimes Davis, Antelope or Stockton.
All select teams participate in these tournaments:
Select Season tournament on a weekend in mid- or late March, played in the Bay Area or in Davis.
Select teams also traditionally participate in 2-4 of the following tournaments (dates subject to change):
Davis World Cup, Davis CA (www.davisworldcup.org). Memorial Day Weekend. The BEST AYSO TOURNAMENT OF THEM ALL! The fee is approximately $600/team. Parents of Davis teams are required to help with the tournament. This is the major Davis AYSO fundraiser each year. Open to AYSO Select teams only. All players must have participated in the prior Fall Primary Season.
San Jose Presidents Cup (http://2jpresidentscup.wixsite.com/homepage). 12U's Mid February, 14U's 3rd weekend in February, 10U's last weekend in February. The fee has previously been $375 - $500/team.
PHMSA Soccerfest, Pleasant Hill CA (www.phmsa.org). This is typically held the last weekend of March and/or first weekend in April. The fee has previously been $400-450/team. Open to AYSO teams only.
Comstock Shootout, Carson City NV (www.comstockshootout.org). Girls Tournament: April Boys Tournament: April. This is an “open” tournament so you will see CYSA teams in addition to AYSO teams. The fee has previously been $500 (10U) or $600 (all others)/team, although it may be higher if you do not bring one or more referees.
El Palo Alto Invitational Tournament (www.ayso26.org/soccer-programs/elpaloalto). This tournament is typically held in late April. Fees have been $325-$375 and teams must provide 2 referees, at minimum. Open to AYSO teams only.
Pacifica Fog Classic, Pacifica CA (www.ayso157.org). This is typically held the first weekend in May. Fee has been $450 (10U; $350 fees + $100 ref deposit), $475 (12U), or $500 (14U-19U)/team.
Concord Cup, Concord CA, (www.concordcup.com). Mid May. This is an “open” tournament so you will see CYSA teams in addition to AYSO teams, although sometimes there is a separate AYSO bracket. Fees have been $400.00+/team. Teams must provide at least 2 referees who will complete a minimum of 6 assignments between them in order to be accepted.
Come Up For Air, South Lake Tahoe CA (http://www.tahoecufa.com/). Mid June . This is an “open” tournament typically with few AYSO teams participating, so you will see mainly CYSA teams. Fees have been $650/team.